Interview – Pynk – Author of Sexaholics
Hi Readers, We’ve been give the opportunity to ask a few questions of the Author Pynk in regards to her book Sexaholics and her writing process. For those of you who don’t know, Pynk is the “erotic” pseudonym for author Marissa Monteilh. Among her mainstream titles are May December Souls, The Chocolate Ship, Hot Boyz, Dr. Feelgood, Something He Can Feel, As Fate Would Have It, and Make Me Hot.
Her novel Make Me Hot was an African American Literary Award nominee. In the field of erotic novels, as Pynk, she has written books such as Erotic City and the upcoming Sixty Nine. Please take a moment to read through this interview and learn a little more about Pynk.
Rhodes Review: What was the inspiration of this book?
Pynk: Back in 2002, it was reported that Eric Benet attended sex addiction counseling after his break up with Halle Berry. I remember hearing the term Sexaholic and knew that I wanted to explore a fictional sexaholic experience from a female perspective. Later I decided to write the title under the name of PYNK. The title was purchased in 2006, and even today, sexaholism is still a timely topic.
Rhodes Review: From your research, what do you think women/men who actually suffer from sex addiction do to get better?
Pynk: Sex addicts act on their desire for self pleasure through sex with other people or alone, risking their jobs, relationships, marriages, or sometimes their lives. Sex addicts are unable to manage their feelings and are out of control because sex is their drug, temporarily allowing them to escape the real issues.
Healing must be spiritual, emotional, and physical. One must admit to being powerless and determine what the underlying issues are that trigger the pain. It is important to be aware that when emotions and desires arise, the sex addict needs to focus on abstaining and believing in a power greater than themselves to get them through. Sobriety is possible with a twelve-step program, and the recovery can be long lasting, but it is not easy. That sobriety is a true form of sexual healing. Once an addict, always an addict – but abstaining one day at a time is key. Victory over lust is possible.
Rhodes Review: What is your writing process like?
Pynk: My stories are character driven, so I get to know each one by preparing character resumes, and then I think of situations I can throw in the way, and let them have at it. I call that fiction-friction. Sometimes I outline where the story goes, but most times it takes on a life according to my characters, and I even let them surprise me. I always remind myself that this is a journey for my characters to live out, and what they might do has nothing to do with what I would do. A writer must separate himself/herself and be brave. It’s only fair to the reader, and to the characters themselves.
Rhodes Review: What are your muses, ie. What gives you ideas to write about?
Pynk: Music is the main one. Anyone who reads my novels knows that songs play a big role in my stories. I can hear a song and usually something about it will move me, inspire me, and it sweetens my desire to engage in my love affair with words. A good, well-written song with a special melody gets me going. That, and true peace and quiet, or a nice long shower, usually trigger my ability to hear my characters talking.
Rhodes Review: Did you always plan on writing?
Pynk: No. I’d planned on becoming a CFO because I was good at math, or a model because I was tall and skinny. Along the way in life I was a banker and a fitting model. Those were not my gifts, and neither was acting or news reporting, which I also explored. My greatest talent has been my passion for writing. I sat down to write my first novel in 1998 and have not looked back. I have found my gift.
We’d like to thank Pynk for taking the time to answer these questions, and for Anna at Hachette Book Group for arranging this. Be sure and stop in to see our review of Sexaholics and enter our contest to win yourself a copy.
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